Bottle capping machine



Feb. 21, 1950 A. c. NAccARATib ET AL 2,498,443

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE V Filed Nov. 29, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 InventorsAntonio 6. Naccararo Raymond E. McGau/ey Feb. 21, 1950 A. c. NACCARATOETAL 2,498,443

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 29, 1948 By waoizihFeb. 21, 1950 A. c. NACCARATO ET AL 2,498,443

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Filed Nov. 29, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 4. g

Fig. 5.

Inventors Antonio 0. Naccararo Raymond E. McCau/ey Patented Feb 21, 1950-'BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE "Antonio 0. Net-teams and Raymond El -MoGauley,,Bos Angelesg' calif.

Application November 29, 1948,"Serial'No.' 62,442

v 12 Claims.

This is a continuation in-part' of our co-pen'd- =ingapplication SerialNo.-604',43 6, filed Iliilyll,

1945, and abandoned as of November "30,1948.

The primary object-of this invention is'to ap- -ply closuresto-receptacles, as caps on"bottles, by

utilizing a preselected maximum force of application, force above a:preselected value releasing avalve so that the effective force-ofapplication decreases.

Another object of the inventionis to apply caps to bottles by means ofadev-ice which "includes a pair of relatively slidable cylindersand apiston disposed in and separatingsaid cylinders into fluid chambers withpassages in said-piston,

-fiuid in said cylinders, a valve on the lowerside of said pistonclosing certain of said l-pa'ssag'es when the iiuidin the lower chamberis put under pressure bythe initialpressing of "a cap on a bottle,during -this-- period, the other passages being closed by a-pressureresponsive vaivemember, then when the-pressure in the lower'cha'mb'er'reaches-a predetermined value, thepressure responsive valve membersopens its appurtenant passages allowing the fluid underipressure 'toflow into the upper chamber, however, shortly after the pressureresponsive valve opens' thehigh pressure in the lower chamber isrelieved by fluid flowing into the upper chamber-and the pressureresponsive valve closes the bottle is completely capped at thattime andthe device moved '(or the next bottle moved with respect to'the'device)meanwhile the cylinders are extended with respect to each other by theinfluence-of. gravity, causing the first mentioned or lower valve memberto move to the passage opening position thereby-allowing the fluid inthe upper cham- -'berto flow into the lower-chamber,the" 'device i thenbeing in-condition fora secondop'eration.

A further object "of this inventionds' to-incorporate in -oneeof "thecylinders a resiliently biased or urgedplunger-cylinder used to transmitcap application force from the device to a bottle "or from the bottle tothe device, -dep'ending'bn whichelement is stationary with"-resp'ecttothe other and to; supply cushioningmeansin addition to the resilienturging means for the" plunger- -cylinder.

Ancillary'objects and features ofnovelty such as simplicity of structurewill becomeapparent to those skilledv in the-art, in following'thedescription of the preferred form of the'inv'enti'on illustrated'in theaccompanying" drawings'fwh'erein z v p I Figure 1 is an elevational'view' showing the invention-adapted -for use'in- 'conjun'ctionwitnrelativelymovable "bottles for "capping purposes andal'so teaching" theutility of the'device" in Figure 2 is a longitudinal 'sectionalwiew'ofthe structure forming the present invention, showing the-same "before"it engages a bottle for capping purposes;

Figure 3 Ba longitudinal sectional view of' the device shown in Figure2, the elements being 'in relative position at the instant "when fa"preselected value of force is applied to the bot'tlecap, "whereby thepressure "responsive valve opens "certain passages thereby'permi'ttingfluid' tofrjush from the'lower' chamber into the upperchamber; Figure 4 is an elevational view of the'capand piston utilizedin conjunction with'the invention; Figure 5 'is'an elevational Viewofthe outer cylinder;

Figure"6is an elevational viewof the inner cylinder;

"Figure '7 is'a perspective view'of the plunger "cylinder;

Figure} is an elevational view of'the crimping head used inconjunctionWith the "remainder of the structure;

Figure 9 Ban 'elevat'ionalview 'of'the'cr'own receiving mechanism,portions being broken away in se'ction'to'illustrate detailsof'construction; and 30.

Figure 10 is an elevational view-portions being broken away in sectionto illustrate internal "structure'of the device, teaching itsuse'in con-"junctionwithia mannerism of'applying caps to 'bottleswhereby the entiredevice is reciproc'at'ed "and the" bottle-held "relatively stationary,the "reciprocating meansbeing illustrated; schemati- "cally.

The instant'device described herein isan attachment for'use inconjunction" with'various types of existing apparatus or which may beused in conjunction with an entirely new framing apparatus. The broadestpurpose of ftheinve'nti'on "is to' applybottle' caps tobo'ttles' oroth'ertypes of closures for various'receptacles.

Referring'toFigure 1 'it will be" seen'"that' a number "of the devicesmay' be' attached to a relatively" 'stationairybeam I 0 "in gangfashion.

"In this instance a reciproca'table table" l2 'sup- "ports a"nu1'n'berof" bottles 14 for reciprocating movement with 'respectto' the'bottlecapping attachments. For illustrative purposes,'it is seen that thetable IZ'maybe reciprocated by'means "of a rotating camlfihaving a ca'mfollower I8 in 'engagement'tnerewith. The cam followeibeing mounted for"rotation-onthe bottom sur'face a o of the table I2 imparts areciprocatory movement to the table. Ifdesired, the device may beutilized in another manner, that is, as shown in Figure 10. Here, thebottle I4 is maintained relatively stationary, while the cappingattachment reciprocates thereover by any suitable means such as byoperation of a conventional crank 22 and link 24 mechanism which isattached to a cross-head 26, operating through a uide 28.

Bottle capping structure An outer cylinder 30 is supplied with an outerperipheral flange 32 having'recesses 34 and 36 therein for accommodationof fastening screws 38. A closure or cap 40 for this cylinder is fixedto the upper open end thereof by means of the screws 38 which arethreadly disposed in the member 10. When the device is adapted for useas shown in Figure 10, the screws 38 will anchor in a lower enlargedportion 42 of the crosshead 25.

A boss 44 is fixed to the cap or closure 40 and has an internallythreaded opening accommodating the piston rod 45. It is noted that boththe member I and the enlarged portion 42 have openings 48 formed thereinaccommodating the boss 44 for centering purposes.

The said piston rod 48 has a piston head' 50 fixed thereto, or formedintegral therewith as is shown in Figures 2 and 3. Thls piston isdisposed in the bore of an inner cylinder 52, thereby separating it intofluid chambers 54 and 55, respectively. The outer cylinder 30 and inneror second cylinder 52 are slidably disposed with respect to each other;with means being provided for limiting the relative movement of one withrespect to the other. This meanslconsists of the outer cylinder beingformed with bores 58 and 60, respectively, of different diameters. Thelarger bore is at the top of the outer cylinder 30 and has the outerperipheral flange 62 of the inner cylinder 52 slidable therein, seatingon the shoulder formed at the junction of the bores when the cylindersare in their extended position.

In order that the piston be maintained firmly attached to the cap 40, alock nut 66 is threadedly disposed on the piston rod 48 and engages thelower portion of the boss 44. Also provided on the threaded portion ofthe piston rod 46 is a pair ofnuts t3 and 70, respectively, cooperatingto form a stop. A spring 12 or other suitable resilient urging means isdisposed on the piston rod 45, being concentric therewith and reacts onthe stop formed by the nuts 58 and 70. The oppositeend of the spring I2engages I a fluid pressure responsive valve member 14 which seats on theupper surface or side of the piston head 50, and which is slidable onthe piston rod 46.

Certain mechanical expedients may be resorted to in conjunction with thespecific structure as found desirable. An example is the utility ofpiston rings is which are disposed-in the 4 valve member 84 which isslidable on depending screws 85, attached to the piston head 50. Thischeck valve member 84 has an opening 88 in the center thereof so that itcannot cover the passage 89. p

The lower end of the inner cylinder 52 has vertically aligned bores 90and 92, respectively, therein accommodating a plunger or plungercylinder 96. This plunger cylinder is reciprocable in the bores 90 and92 and is constantly urged outwardly of the inner cylinder 52 by meansof a spring 98 or other suitable urging means of a resilient nature. Thespring is seated within the central opening of the plunger 96 andengages thematerial of the inner cylinder 52 between the chamber 54 andthe upper end of thebore 90. This structure is utilized for transmittingforce set up between the bottle cap while capping operations are takingplace and the lower chamber 54 which has fluid therein.

An annular flange Hill is formed on the external surface, of the pistoncylinder 96 and is operable in the bore 92-. Spacers I02 are disposed onthe flange I 00 and are used for purpose of regulating the extent ofcrimping. As the flange I00 reaches the uppermost position of itstravel, the spacing rings I02 engage the shoulder between the bore 90and the bore 92 limiting the travel of the piston cylinder 96 withrespect to the cylinder 52 thereby limiting the inward travel of thebottle neck relative to the device.

Limiting the downward travel of the plunger cylinder 96 is the crownerhead member I04 which is disposed in a larger bore (unnumbered) at thelower end of the bore 92. This crowner head member has an inclined innerwall I06 for squeezing inwardly the crimped portion of conventionalbottle caps as shown at I08. The annular shoulder of flange I00 simplyengages the upper edge or side "offthis crowner head member I04. Also,the bottom surface of the plunger cylinder is smoothly curved as seen atI I0 to facilitate crowning operations.

.A collar H2 is internally threaded and removably disposed on the lowerend of the inner cylinder 52. An outwardly flared guide H4 is fixed tothe collar H2 and a crown inlet chute H5 is in communication with thecrown receiving zone at the end of the said chute; A flange H8 isdisposed in the flared member H4 whereon the crowns are adapted to seatbefore crowning operations.

Operation The mode of operation for the attachment is identical, whetherthe attachment be applied as shown in Figure l or as shown in Figure 10.Whether the crowning attachment moves with relation to the bottle I4 orthebottle I4 moves with relation to' the crowner attachment isimmaterial.

, Viewing Figure 2 it willbe seen that the crowner attachment is inposition for applying the single crown I05, to the bottle I4. As thebottle moves upwardly with respect to the attachment, the neck thereofpasses through the seat III? for cap I08. Then, the bottle I4 movesslightly further upwardly and the spring 98is compressed slightly byapplication of theforce between the crown on the bottle and the crownerattachment (due to the relative movement therebetween);

This force is immediately transmitted through the material of the'innercylinder 52into the lower chamber 54 which maintains a fluid-therein.

This initial application of force causes-the first; valve member 84 toclose. the first valve passage on passages 82. Accordingly, furthermovement of the bottle I4 upwardly causes an increased fluid pressureinthe saidchamber 54;

While this fluid pressure is-being' increased in the chamber 54', it is(the pressure) reacting: onthe fluid pressure responsive valvemember orsecond.- va-lve member 142 This condition occurs due to the opening 88'in thelower valve memberand secondpassages-ml-i When fluid pressure ofsufiiciencyis present in the chamber 54- to overcome the counter-forceofthespring 1 2', the valvemember M will open.

However, while this isoccurring (thepressure increasing in the chamber54) the inner cylinder 52 moves steadily upwardly within the outer c'ylinder 302 At the instant that the fluid pressure in the chamber 54issufficient to overcome the counterforce. of the spring-12; the valvemember 14-" opens and the cylinder- 52 is moved upwardly within theouter'cyl-inder 3U; this operational -conditionbeing shown in Figure 3.

By adjustment ofthe stopformed by the nuts 10 and- 68- respectively, theeffective spring pressure may be regulated whereby a preselected forceis necessary 'to open the valve-member M At that time the fluid in thechamber 54 rushes intothe chamber 56 thereby relieving the pressure inthe said chamber 54; Hence, the-spring 1 2 exerting the larger 1 forceagain closes the passages: 8.0.

As a result ofthe above; the stop maybe ad'- justed to a preselectedposition so that only a predetermined pressure will be applied to thebottle cap; [-981 and then-the pressure willsl'i'ghtl'y fallofi: due tothe facttha-t the valve'member 14' exposes a greater area to the fluidpressure. From thereon, the pressure remains constant no matter how.much. faster the bottle [4. is urged upwardlyinto the relativelystationary device.

This, of course, is stated within the practical limits of the: size: ofelements. and relationship of parts. It is apparent that by improperoperation the bottle M may simply be urged upwardly an extremely largeamount thereby crushingthe bottle, but the stroke t either thecrownerattachmentor: the table I2 is regulated by common mechanical means, theinstant crowner attachment compensating for irregularities in size ofbottles or varying sized bottles.

While the fluid in the chamber 5 7 isbeing placed under pressure andwhile it is allowed esca-pement upon reaching the preselected value ofpressure, the bottle Wis-moved steadily upward into thecrowing-headmember [M thereby crimping the lower edge of the crown P0 8 around thebottle top. By so crimping the same, the diameter of the crown I08isreduced, so that itwill be of a smallersize thereby easilypassingt-hrough the seat H8 which supported the crownor; cap before thecrimpingopera-tion began.

The spring 98' constantlyapplies a-forceonthe crown F08; whereby thebottle [4 being lowered is maintained in a steady condition until. ithas passed through (substantially) the seat H 8:

Since a portion of the fluid has passed; from the chamber'54 into thechamber 56, it must. be returned to the chamber 54= inorder to" performthe second crowning operation on anotherbottl'e. Hence, as the bottle Mis beingmoved' from" the inner cylinder 52, the said inner cylinder 52'is allowed to fall downwardly with respect to the outer, cylinder 30.due, to the force of gravity. The

Spring, 'llireacting, on the valve; Tdi closesthe pas,-

sageszafli Hence; thevalve-imcmber &4: will simply fall. by the. forceof gravity:- to the passage; 82: opening positionthereby allowing thefluid which was trapped in the upper chamber: 562' to return. to thelower chamber" 54;, This: placesv the; ap-- paratus. in a: condition,as. shown. in Figure- 2;. ready for. alsecondi operation on anotherbottle;

ln instances wherein onezof: the bottles IA is urgedv inwardly withrespect to the I crowner head' attachment such. an extentztha-t theplunger cylinder 96: reaches: the inwardmost travel thereof; the spacingrings or members. I502. engage the shoulder between the bore 90.andbores92 therebyserving the effect of a stop of crimping.

The operation of the feeding mechanism is deemed-obvious. Caps. or otherclosures simply fall.v from. the gravity feed-J chute. I20. into thechute HGl which is. attached as described above. One-cap following:closely the previous cap simpl yfillsqin atathe proper position on theseat llflsror crowning operations.

It isappreciated that variations. may be made without departing from thespirit. of the invention.

Havingdescribed the invention, .what is claimed as new is:

1. A bottle capping device comprising anouter cylinder having concentricbores of difierentdiiameters and. an annularv internal seat: formedbetween said bores; a second cylinder having an outwardly: extendingperipheral flange aboutv its upper end'disposed in the enlarged bore insaid firstv mentioned. cylinder and having vertically spaced alignedbores of'different'diameters, a'cap plate for said first mentionedcylinder, a depending ported piston adjustably' supported by said capplate for. operation. in the upper bore in said second cylindenra valvecarriedbysaid piston for opening and closing the-port in said piston, ahollow: plunger cylinder operable in the lower bore in saidnsecond'cylinder; resilient means for urging the hollow plunger cylinder to its:foremost. position, a, spacing ring in the lower end of said; secondcylinder, and means in said second cylinder for-crimping a cap on abottle neck'when said second cylinder and abot-tl'elare moved withrespect to eachother.

2'. The combination of claim 1, and a combined bottle neckreceivingthroatand' crowncap feedingchutesecured' to the lower end ofvsaid second cylinder.

3. A bottle capping device-comprising an outer fluid retaining cylinder,an inner fluid retaining cylinder slidably disposed in said outercylinder, means associated with said cylinders limiting-"- the slidingmovement of said cylinders relative to each other, a piston: disposed?in said! cylinders having a first and" asecond passage therein a firstvalve member carried by' said piston and selectively opening and closingsaid first passage, a fluid pressure responsive valve member: disposed'in opening. and closingrelation with said second passage-,- meanscarriedby sai'dinner cylinder for crimping bottle caps on bottles and meansdisposed in said inner cylinder for transmitting force from a bottle capwhile-it is being applied to a bottle to said-valve members.

4. A bottle capping device comprising-an outer fluid retaining cylinder,aninner fluid retaining cylinder slidably disposed in said" outercylinder, means'associated with said cylinders limiting the slidingmovement of said; cylinders relative to each other, a, piston disposedin said cylinders having. a first; and. a second passa e therein, a.

first. valve. member carried. by saidn ston' and selectively opening andclosing said first passage, a fluid pressure responsive valve memberdisposed in opening and closing relation with said second passage, meanscarried by said inner cylinder, for crimping bottle caps on bottles andmeans disposed in said inner cylinder for transmitting force from abottle cap while it is being applied to a bottle to said valve members,said pressure responsive valve member being disposed on said piston, apiston rod extending from said piston, and adjustable stop disposed onsaid piston rod, and resilient means reacting on said stop and saidpressure responsive valve member.

5. Means for applying closures on receptacles by application of a forceon the closure which increases until reaching a preselected value,whence the force decreases below the preselected value comprising: anouter liquid retaining cyl inder and an inner liquid retaining cylinderslidable therein, means limiting the travel of said cylinders withrespect to each other, a closure for said cylinders, a piston having apiston rod carried by said closure, said piston separating said'innercylinder into an upper and a lower liquid chamber, means carried by saidinner cylinder for crimping closures to receptacles, means fortransmitting force to the liquid in said lower chamber while aclosure isbeing applied to a receptacle, passages in said piston, and valvemembers carried by said piston closing said passages, means reacting onsaidpiston rod and one of said valve members retaining it in the passageclosing position until a' predetermined liquid pressure is appliedthereon from the lower chamber.

6. Means for applying by application of a force on the closure whichincreases until reaching a preselected value, whence the forcedecreasesbelow the preselected value comprising: an outerliquidretaining cylinder and an inner liquid retaining cylinder slidabletherein, means limiting the travel of said cylinders with respect toeach other, a closure for said cylinders, a piston having a pistonrodcarried by said closure, said piston separating said inner cylinder intoan upper and a lower liquid chamber, means carried by said innercylinder for crimping closures to receptacles, means for transmittingforce to the liquid in said lower chamber while a closure is beingapplied to a receptacle at which time it will be opened allowing fluidto flow into the upper chamber, and

said force transmitting means including a piston slidable in said innercylinder, and a spring constantly urging said last-mentioned pistonoutwardly of said inner cylinder.

7. Means for applying closures on receptacles by application of a forceon the closure which increases until reaching a preselected value,whence the force decreases below the preselected value comprising: anouter liquid retaining cylinder and an inner liquid retaining cylinderslidable therein, means limiting the travel of said cylinders withrespect to each other, a closure for said cylinders, a piston having 'apiston rod carried by said closure, said piston separating said innercylinder into an upper and a lower liquid chamber, means carried by saidinner cylinder for crimping closures to receptacles, means fortransmitting force to the liquid in said lower chamber while a closureis being applied to a receptacle, passages in said piston, and valvemembers carried by said piston closingsaid passages, means reacting onsaid piston rod and one of said valve members retaining it in thepassage closing position until a predetermined liquid pressure isapclosures on receptacles plied thereon from the lower chamber, a secondvalve member carried by said piston closing other of said passages whileliquid pressure is being applied to said first mentioned valve member.

8. Means for applying closures on receptacles by application of a forceon the closure which increases until reaching a preselected value,whence the force decreases below the preselected value comprising: anouter liquid retaining cylinder and an inner liquid retaining cylinderslidable therein, means limiting the travel of said cylinders withrespect to each other, a closure for said cylinders, a piston having apiston rod carried by said closure, said piston separating said innercylinder into an upper and a lower liquid chamber, 'means carried bysaid inner cylinder for crimping closures to receptacles, means fortransmitting force to the liquid in said lower chamber while a closureis being applied to a receptacle, a first passage in said piston and avalve member carried by said piston closing said passage by liquidpressure in said lower chamber, second passage in said piston, and asecond valve member closing said second passage, means retaining saidsecond valve member in the passage closing position until apredetermined liquid pressure is present in the lower chamber.

9. Means for applying closures on receptacles by application of a forceon the closure which increases until reaching a preselected value,whence the force decreases below the preselected value comprising: anouter liquid retaining cylinder and an inner liquid retaining cylinderslidable therein, means limiting the travel of said cylinders withrespect to each other, a closure for said cylinders, a piston having apiston rod carried by said closure, said piston separating said innercylinder into an upper and a lower liquid chamber, means carried by saidinner cylinder for crimping closures to receptacles, means fortransmitting force to the liquid in said lower chamber while a closureis being applied to a receptacle, a first passage in said piston and avalve member carried by said piston closing said passage by liquidpressure in said lower chamber, second passage in said piston, and asecond valve member closing said second passage, means retaining saidsecond valve member in the passage closing position until apredetermined liquid pressure is present in the lower chamber includinga spring reacting on said second valve member, and a stop adjustablydisposed on said piston rod having said spring seated thereon.

10. A device for applying caps to bottles comprising an outer cylinderhaving bores of diiferent diameters, an inner cylinder slidable in saidbores and having a flange in the larger of said bores, said innercylinder having vertically spaced bores of difierent diameters, a capplate for said outer cylinder, a depending piston having ports supportedby said cap plate for operation in one of the bores of said innercylinder, a valve carried by said piston for opening and closing atleast one of said ports, a spring constantly urging said valve member inthe port closing position, a second valve carried by piston closing atleast one other of said ports, a plunger cylinder operable in the otherbore in said inner cylinder, resilient means urging said plungercylinder outwardly of said inner cylinder, spacing means in said lastmentioned'bore engaged by said plunger piston, and means carried by saidinner cylinder for crimping caps on bottle necks.

11. For use in crowning machines, a crowner attachment comprising anouter cylinder, an inner cylinder slidable in said outer cylinder,

means associated with said cylinders for limiting the sliding travel ofthe cylinders with respect to each other, means for seating a crown atthe lower portion of said inner cylinder for applica} tion on a bottle,resiliently urged means for trans mitting force caused by application ofa crown to a bottle to the bore of said inner cylinder,' a pistondisposed in the bore of said inner cylinder separating said bore into anupper and lower fluid chamber, and means carried by said pistonresponsive to the pressure in the lower chamber for relieving thepressure in the lower chamber and for the passage of fluid from saidlowe chamber to the upper chamber.

tion on a bottle, resiliently urged means for transmitting force causedby application of a crown to a bottle to the bore of said innercylinder, a piston disposed in the bore of said inner cylinderseparating said bore into an upper and lower fluid chamber, and meanscarried by said piston responsive to the pressure in the lower chamberfor relieving the pressure in the lower chamber and for the passage offluid from said lower chamber to the upper chamber including passages insaid piston, a piston rod supporting said' piston, a closure for saidouter cylinder supporting said piston rod, a valve member mountedflforaxial movement on said piston rod, and resilient means reacting on saidpiston rod and said valve member constantly urging said valve member inthe passage closing position.

ANTONIO c. NACC'ARATO. RAYMOND E. M'cCAULEY.

, No references cited.

